Automobile fire-fighting apparatus.



J.A. THO MAS.. AUTOMOBILE FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS, APPFICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1912.

1 251,303, Patented Dec. 25,1917.

2 S ETSSHEET I.

J. A. THOMAS. I AUTOMOBILE FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

' APPLlCATlON'FILED JUNEB, 1912 1,251,303. Patented Dec. 25, 1917;v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTEST INVENTOI? FAQ q M 4. Mu.

Br WWW 1477mm JOHN A. THOMAS, 0 F ZANES'VIL LE, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS.

. Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial No. 702,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. THOMAS, citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville. in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Fire-Fighting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in the class or style of automobile fire-fighting apparatus, and the object of the invention is to provide the said machine with means for warming or heating the essential parts thereof during freezing weather and especially during the operation of the engine at a fire as otherwise there is danger of the machine being incapacitated or stopped by the formation of ice, and also to house the chemicals. Then again, it occurs very frequently in all cities in our northern latitudes that the hydrants and plugs on the streets become frozen up and cannot be opened or used until they have been thawed out. My invention anticipates these dangers and provides remedies, all substantially as shown and described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus or engine in which my invention is devel' oped, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line ww, Fig. l.

The apparatus has the usual propelling engine a for both propelling the machine and driving the apparatus at a fire, and a chemical supply mechanism including bins Z), hopper h and conveyor 0. The said bins are at the rear and sides of the machine and the other parts in about the middle thereof. All the water and chemical solution that goes to the fire must necessarily pass through these parts of the engine, and while the fiuid is kept on the travel while the engine is at work and therefore not liable to freeze in that condition, it must follow of course that when the engine stops the fluid pipes and channels will be filled and, unless promptly drained oil, be liable to freeze up and disable the engine. Furthermore, I have found it important for the same reasons to have the engine inclosed or housed with a suitable cover and thereby protect it from snow and rain and moisture from other sources when in the fire zone. This housing is par- TED sra'rns PAT IC the bins and hopper and whichcould not be if used if dampened. The housing also contributes to the warming I maintain about the working parts and pipes of the engine.

I havetherefore equipped my new engine or machine withan inclosure orv housing g,

which is as close as conditions may require and is shown asprovided with doors (Z and cl at its rear and sides respectively and windowsw front and sides. The doors (Z at the rear are hinged and the doors d slide to open and close. The bottom also is inclosed as shown and the top with a suitably strong roof. This makes an effectual inclosure for confining the applied heat within the machine where it is needed but also applies ample light within as well as room to work and adapts the machine to cold weather conditions in a manner not possible without inclosure. It also effectually protects the dry chemical and the attendant to take care of the transfer from bin to hopper and who sees to it that it does not choke in the hopper.

Now, it will be further understood that this machine uses the engine which drives the machine as the power for operating the pump which throws the water onto the fire, and the said engine is indicated by a and may be of any size and have any desired number of cylinders according to the power required, the assumption being that it is of the explosive type. It follows, therefore, that the engines are at work when the machine otherwise is at rest, and the exhaust from the engines is utilized as the heating agent for the fluid motors and other parts and for thawing out a hydrant on the street, as may be required.

To these ends the exhaust products from the engine are discharged into a receiver 3 common to all the engines and conducted thence by coupling pipe 4; to the muttler 5 located beneath the pump and chemical portions of the engine, and the said pipe 4 is provided with a branch stem 6 having hose 7 removably connected therewith. A trip valve 8 at the juncture of the stem 6 with pipe or tube 4 directs the flow of the heat products either to the muffler or to the hose, and the position of said valve is controlled by the driver by means of a pedal 9 and connections thence to the said valve. The inclosure or housing 9 has the muffler 5 located within its bottom extension 6 and in open relations to or with the pump above so as to 12- is shown as having a pinion 13 adap ted.to be slid thereon into and outof'mesh with gear 1% which drives the power pump 2, and this line "of parts is used only 'When the pump is at work and the machine otherwise is standing still. Otherwise, or when the machine is on the" road, these'parts are dis connected.

hat I "claim "is:

In 'an apparatus described,a pump and an inclosure' therefor within the body of the apparatus and a combustionengi-neat the front of the'appa'ratus in driving relations with saidpump, in combination with means to heat thespace about the pump from the engine comprising a housing beneath the pump open at its top to said pump, a muftierin said 'housingand a conduit for the products of combustion from the engine discharging into said mufiier and adapted "to heat the "mufflerby the exhaust from the engine.

In testimony whereof-I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

4. A J OHN' A. THOMAS; .Witnessesz M. FISHER, F. C. MUssUN.

Copies oi'this patent' may be obt a ined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I E'atentI. Washington, D. 6. 

